Daytona 500 weather: Updated forecast threatens NASCAR race despite start time change

Turns out rain could greatly impact Sunday’s Daytona 500 even after NASCAR moved the race start time to 2 pm ET.

The Weather Channel is predicting 98-percent chance of rain and heavy thunderstorms hitting the Daytona, Fla. area around 3 pm ET, just an hour after the current projected start time. And it’s only expected to get worse from there, with 100-percent chance of rain and thunderstorms by 4 pm ET.

Currently, conditions are cloudy with a less than 5 percent chance of rain through the noon ET hour, with temperatures in the upper 70s-low 80s, though there is currently heavy — over 75-percent — cloud cover over the area, according to the Weather Channel.

Should there be any sort of delay, the chance of rain drops considerably to 20-percent around 6 pm ET, and continues to drop throughout the evening. How the forecast will impact the Daytona 500 race is yet to be seen, but it’s clear it’s going to be a wet one regardless.

Daytona 500 announces ‘enhanced security measures,’ expects President Donald Trump to attend

After spending last weekend at Super Bowl LIX, President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Daytona 500 on Sunday, signaling the start of the 2025 season for the NASCAR Cup Series.

However, the weather seems to not be cooperating. Rain is in the forecast for Sunday, but NASCAR believes there’s a window to get the season-opening race in. On Friday, they announced the start of The Great American Race will be moved up an hour to 1:30 p.m. ET.

Additionally, there will be “enhanced security measures” in place, according to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, which alluded to President Trump being at the track.

“NASCAR announces the start time of the Daytona 500 has been moved to 1:30 pm ET. Also says ‘enhanced security measures’ will be in place,” Gluck posted on X. “Expecting President Trump to attend, though that has not been officially confirmed.”

The White House has since confirmed President Trump’s schedule, indicating that he will indeed be present at Daytona International Speedway for at least a portion of the race.

This would not be the first time Trump has attended The Great American Race as President. He previously served as the Grand Marshal for the event in 2020, during his first term as the leader of the United States of America. Ironically, that race was affected by rain and moved to Monday. NASCAR is hoping that won’t be the case this time around.

Nevertheless, it’s tough to dampen excitement for the Daytona 500, despite the threat of weather. 

On3’s Steve Samra contributed to this report.